MASTER 

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NO.  93-81162-11 


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AUTHOR: 


WOOD,  HENRY 
ALEXANDER  WISE 


TITLE: 


PHILOSOPHY  OF 
SUCCESS 

PLACE: 

NEW  YORK 

DA  TE : 

1905 


Restrictions  on  Use: 


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PRESERVATION  DEPARTMENT 

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■174 

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«ood,  irenry  Alexfinder  ^7ise,  1866-1S39. 

A  philosophy  of  success,  by  Kenry  A.  '.Vise  ;Yood. 
Kew  York,  W.  Ritchie,  1S05. 
22  p.  Iblf^, 

"An  address  delivered  before  the  Collepe  of 
progress,  at  I.ev^  York." 


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A  PHILOSOPHY 


OF 


SUCCESS 


BY 


HENRY  A.  WISE  WOOD 


NEW  YORK 

WILLIAM  RITCHIE 

1905 

PRICE  TEN  CENTS 


^|A  PHILOSOPHY 


OF 


SUCCESS 


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BY 


HENRY  A.  WISE  WOOD 


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NEW  YORK 


WILLIAM  RlTjeiil? 
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Copyright,  190S  by 

Henry  A.  Wise  Wood 

And  entered  by  him 

at  Stationer's  Hall,  London 


Wherein  it  is  shown  that  in 
all  things  reason  is  the 
rule  of  the  road 
?  to  success. 


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The  Lotus  Press 


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An  Address 

delivered  before  the 

College  of  Progress, 

at  New  York 


of 

Success 

y^ENTLEMEN:    For 

I    y-  the  opening  subject  this 
^^^    morning  I  have  taken  the 
question,   What   is   greatness? 
^      This  may  seem  both  common- 
place and  easily  to  be  answered, 
but  I  assure  you  that  it  is  neither. 
I  speak  from  the  standpoint  of 
admiration  of  those  who  make 
practical   successes   of    their 
lives:   who  address  themselves 
to  definite  objects;   and  who, 
striving  unceasingly,  finally  ac- 
complish them.     I  mean  those 
who  make   success,  not   those 


[5] 


a  pi^ilo^opJi^v  of  ^wccejSjS 


a  l^i^tlojsopi^i?  of  ^ucceisjs 


who  fall  into  it,  or  who  trick 
it  away  from  other  men;  but 
who  conceive  a  worthy  plan  and 
ably  carry  it  to  a  successful 
termination. 

We  all  agree  that  man  is  the 
noblest  manifestation  of  nature; 
and  not  because  of  his  physical 
capabilities  is  this  so,  but  solely 
because  of  his  mental  suprem- 
acy. In  the  respect  that  the 
Bushman  of  Australia,  the  low- 
est human  type,  is  superior  to 
the  ape,  so  is  the  European  su- 
perior to  the  Bushman:  and 
among  ourselves  in  the  same 
respect  only  can  the  one  indi- 
vidual be  greater  than  the  other. 

We  are  fond  of  assuming  that 
at  birth  all  men  are  equal;  but 
if    such   be   the    case   equality 


[6] 


:/ 


/ 


ceases  soon  after  birth;  and  this 
not  because  of  the  differences 
which  may  exist  in  social  en- 
vironment, or  in  educational 
advantage.  Social  environ- 
ment may  polish  and  a  liberal 
education  may  enlarge,  but 
neither  alone  can  make  a  man. 
Education  may  even  stunt  or 
enchain  the  mind  instead  of  en- 
larging, strengthening,  and  in- 
spiring it.  In  my  own  case,  it 
required  great  effort  to  enable 
me  to  break  away  from  the 
confining  influence  of  many 
things  which  had  been  taught 

me. 

Someone  has  said  that  educa- 
tion is  the  grave  of  the  mind. 
I  presume  by  this  it  was  meant 
that  the  mere  memorization  of 


[7] 


a  P'i^ilo^op^^v  of  ^uccejsjs 


i     a  PWo^opl^v  of  ^uccejsis 


all  that  has  been  thought  and 
done  is  apt  to  satisfy  the  mind 
with  existing  knowledge,  and 
the  present  state  of  things;  and, 
that,  being  satiated,  the  mind 
is  apt  to  strive  no  further. 

We  must  not,  however,  con- 
fuse education  with  learning; 
teachings  with  knowledge. 
Education,  as  I  distinguish  it, 
too  often  consists  of  the  posses- 
sion of  information  forced  in 
from  without;  the  acceptation 
— as  a  general  rule  without 
question  or  analysis — of  ready- 
made  thought. 

Learning,  on  the  other  hand, 
is  the  result  of  absorption, — 
the  taking  in  by  natural  process, 
— of  information  which,  before 
it  is  accepted,  has  undergone 


[8] 


■^ 


digestion,  verification  and  ar- 
rangement. 

By  the  first  process  we  gain 
undigested  information;  by  the 
latter,  knowledge:  and  upon  a 
capacity  for  knowledge  is  based 
greatness.  In  the  one  case  the 
mind  becomes  merely  a  store- 
house; in  the  other  a  workshop. 
From  the  storehouse  may  come 
many  things  of  beauty  which 
the  world  already  knows;  but  it 
is  to  the  workshop  that  the 
world  must  look  for  its  future. 

What  is  it  makes  a  man  great  ? 
Social  advantage  may  polish, 
culture  may  beautify,  learning 
may  equip  and  inspire  him:  but 
what  natural  faculties  must  there 
be  lodged  within  him  to  render 
him  great  ?     Mental  Independ- 


[9] 


a  PWo^opli^v  of  ^uccejsjs 


i     a  i^i^dojjop]^^  of  ^uccejsjs 


ence,  Mental  Honesty,  Mental 
Courage,  Mental  Strength, 
Mental  Skill,  and  Mental  In- 
dustry. These,  it  seems  to  me, 
are  the  main  points  of  Mental 
Supremacy;  and  Mental  Su- 
premacy alone  is  the  true  sub- 
stance of  greatness. 

Mental  Independence  ac- 
cepts nothing  that  cannot  bear 
the  analysis  of  reason;  nothing 
that  will  not  subject  itself  to  the 
laws  of  logical  deduction. 
Upon  this  head  I  say  to  you 
take  no  material  into  the  work- 
shop that  you  have  not  tested. 
Grant  nothing.  Do  not  accept 
the  conclusions  of  another  with- 
out first  having  checked  his  cal- 
culations. Let  neither  the  fame 
of  a  name,  nor  popular  clamor, 

[10] 


\4f 


nor  even  centuries  of  previous 
general  acceptance  throw  you 
oflf  your  guard.  Treat  all  alike: 
analyze  everything  before  you 
rely  upon  it;  and  above  all  do 
not  accept  your  own  conclu- 
sions until  they  have  withstood 
tests  as  severe  as  those  you  would 
apply  to  them  were  they  offered 
by  another.  Let  nothing  enter 
and  abide  in  your  mind  which 
has  not  first  received  thought: 
turn  nothing  out  of  your  mind 
which  is  not  the  result  of 
thought. 

Mental  Independence  pre- 
supposes Mental  Honesty.  Be 
honest  with  yourself;  examine 
constantly  your  own  conclu- 
sions. See  whether  they  are 
based  upon  foundations  of  cor- 

ni-i 


i 


t'i 


a  i^i^ilo^op]^^  of  ^uccejSjs 


V" 


a  l^i^tlojsopi^i?  of  ^uccejS0 


rectly  understood  fact;  or 
whether  they  are  come  at  mere- 
ly by  intuition.  Few  men  think: 
the  majority  rely  upon  intuition. 
Such  men  are  mentally  lazy; 
they  let  the  mind  work  without 
control  or  supervision,  and  act 
without  hesitation  upon  what- 
ever it  happens  to  turn  out. 

t  is  hard  work  to  reason  con- 
^cutively  unless  you  are  used 
to  it;  and  as  most  men  never 
attempt  to  gain  the  faculty,  few 
possess  it. 

Intuition  may  be  a  good  look- 
out at  the  bow,  but  it  cannot 
direct  the  course  of  a  ship. 
Its  dictates  are  based  upon  the 
apparent,  rather  than  the  real, 
substance  of  things,  and  there- 
fore are  more  apt  to  get  you  in- 

[12] 


to  trouble  than  out  of  it.     In- 
tuition causes  you  to  jump   at 
conclusions;  it  does  not   show 
you  the  way  to  them.     When 
it  has  landed  you  there  it  is  dif- 
ficult to  find  your  way  back,  be- 
cause you  leapt  blindfold.     For 
this  reason  intuitive  conclu- 
sions, whether  held  by  others  or 
by  ourselves,  are  the  most  diffi- 
cult to  combat.     On  the  other 
hand,  though  somewhat   more 
laborious  in  the  formation,  con- 
clusions reached  by  consecutive 
reasoning  are  very   sure;  and, 
when  suspected,  may  easily  be 
retraced   and   verified    or,  if 
wrong,  set  right^^^ 
^Therefore,  do^ot  jump   at 
'conclusions;    approach  them 
slowly  and  cautiously:  take  the 


[13] 


a  pi!^ilo^op\^v  of  ^ucct^^ 

long  way  around,  for  it  will 
prove  the  sure  way  across.  Do 
not  assume  things;  find  them 
out.  And  do  not  fool  yourselves. 
Remember  that  neither  the 
laws  of  nature,  of  business,  nor 
of  other  forms  of  human  action 
can  regard  your  opinion,  or  my 
opinion.  Nor  will  they  act  on 
our  behalf  simply  because  we 
wish  them  so  to  do,  or  because 
wc  think  they  should.  They 
can  be  set  in  motion  only  by 
compulsion;  and  can  only  be 
compelled  by  those  who  under- 
stand them;  who  grasp  the  prin- 
ciples upon  which  they  work, 
and  who  are  skillful  enough  to 
provide  conditions  to  which 
they  will  respond. 

If  a  man   wants   to   move  a 

[14] 


X. 


1 


f 


ii 


) 

\ 

/ 


stone  on  the  hillside,  and  is  wise, 
he  does  not  try  to  push  it  by 
mainforce  fromits  restingplace; 
but  digs  beneath  it  on  the  lower 
side,  knowing  that  when  by  his 
labor  and  skill  he  has  provided 
the  proper  conditions  at  its  base, 
the  action  of  gravitation  will  do 
the  rest.  If,  however,  he  knows 
nothing  of  the  effects  of  gravi- 
tation, and  is  not  familiar  with 
the  means  by  which  it  can  be 
utilized,  the  removal  of  that 
stone  will  present  a  difficulty 
that  appears  far  greater,  in  fact, 
than  it  really  is. 

Be  honest  with  yourselves: 
do  not  let  the  egotism  of  your 
opinions  get  you  into  conflict 
with  the  laws  of  nature;  or 
with  those  of  human  conduct. 

[15] 


\ 


a  l^i^tlojsop]^^  of  ^uccejsjs 


a  l^i^tloisopl^t  of  ^uccejS0 


Yield  to  the  facts  and  yield 
gladly,  not  grudgingly.  Do 
not  wait  till  you  run  against 
them:  hunt  them  up.  They 
may  be  rocks  in  your  sea,  and 
should  be  on  your  chart.  When 
they  threaten  do  not  hide  from 
them,  and  seek  to  escape  in  a 
fog  of  your  own  making. 
Honestly  and  manfully  come 
out  and  admit  them.  Gentle- 
men, be  honest  with  yourselves 
and  the  facts  will  be  your  best 
friends:  live  at  peace  with  the 
facts  and  you  need  have  no  fear 
for  the  result. 

After  Mental  Honesty  comes 
Mental  Courage.  Do  not  fear 
to  think.  Do  not  fear  to  rea- 
son. Do  not  fear  to  beheve 
what  your  thought  and  reason 

[16] 


f 


ut 


dictate.  Remember,  numbers 
do  not  constitute  truth; — fact, 
alone,  does.  If  you  have  the 
fact  do  not  fear  the  numbers. 
If  you  are  with  the  multitude 
do  not  feel  safe  from  the  fact. 
In  such  a  conflict  there  is  more 
strength  in  a  very  small  fact 
than  in  a  very  large  crowd. 

If  an  ugly  fact  confront  you  do 
not  dodge;  do  the  only  possible 
thing — reason  upon  it.  Look 
it  in  the  face  and  size  it  up; 
not  fearfully,  timidly;  but  cour- 
ageously, firmly.  When  you 
have  done  that,  act,  quickly, 
surely,  manfully;  but  never 
sneak  off  to  avoid  the  conflict, 
for  then  you  are  less  of  a  man 
than  you  were  before;  and, 
worst  of  all,  you  yourself  will 

[17] 


*• 

4 


I 


1 

4. 


a  PWo^opl^i^  of  ^uccejsjs 


^i 


i 


a  f^i^tlojsjopi^t  of  ^uccejsjs 


know  it.  Those  who  disHke 
reason,  fear  facts;  those  who 
fear  facts  hate  truth; — these, 
usually,  are  the  failures  in  life. 

Have  courage  to  test  your 
own  beliefs;  and  courage  to  dis- 
card them  if  they  fail  when 
tested.  Have  courage  to  ac- 
cept the  beliefs  of  others  when 
you  know  them  to  be  right;  and 
courage  to  submit  your  own 
beliefs  to  the  analysis  of  others, 
be  the  result  what  it  may. 
Have  courage  to  assert  the 
right  in  the  face  of  ridicule; 
and  courage  to  attack  the  wrong 
even  in  the  house  of  its  friends. 
The  facts  being  with  you,  fear 
nothing. 

After  Mental  Courage  comes 
the  quality  of  Mental  Strength. 


* ,   •• 


J  , 


It  consists  mainly  of  two  mo- 
tive powers,  concentration  and 
continuity.  These  are  to  be 
gained  by  practise,yand  are  in- 
dispensable to  a  proper  use  of 
the  mind.  They  must  be  sus- 
ceptible of  application  in  any 
direction  at  short  notice. 

Mental  Skill  is  the  science  of 
handling  the  mind;  the  faculty 
of  generalship.  For  lack  of  the 
possession  of  it  the  best  quali- 
ties may  result  in  nothing; 
while  where  it  is  highly  de- 
veloped and  well  directed  its 
instant  and  precise  manipula- 
tion of  the  forces  at  its  com- 
mand will  render  it  capable  of 
winning  many  conflicts  which 
otherwise  could  not  be  gained. 

Of  Mental   Industry  I  need 


[18] 


[19] 


i 


4 


h 


a  p}^ilo^op\)v  of  ^ucceiEJ)2j 


i 


a  l^i^tlojsop]^^  of  ^uccejSjS 


only  say  that  it  is  the  means  by 
which  the  various  other  facul- 
ties are  fed,  organized,  trained, 
and  appHed.  It  suppHes  to  the 
mind  materials  to  be  used;  and 
insists  that  they  be  worked  up. 
Its  duty  is  never  to  permit  a 
cessation  of  employment.  As 
with  an  army,  whether  the  mind 
be  at  rest  or  in  action,  no  break 
can  occur  in  its  drill  or  its  dis- 
cipline without  a  loss  of  that 
efficiency  failing  which  the 
rarest  array  of  brilliant  talents 
can  never  be  focused  into  that 
stupenduous  force  which  the 
world  calls  greatness. 

In  conclusion,  gentlemen,  I 
desire  to  add  but  this: — In  the 
life  of  every  man  there  must 
come  a  time  when  he  is  called 


>  V. 


^' 


r 


I 


upon  to  decide  between  his 
mind  and  his  body;  between 
his  mental  and  his  physical  be- 
ing: a  time  when  he  must  de- 
termine either  to  utilize  his 
mind  to  provide  pleasures  for 
his  body;  or  to  employ  his  body 
as  a  support,  as  an  assistant,  for 
his  mind. 

If  he  make  his  physical  be- 
ing paramount  and  reduce  his 
mind  to  the  mere  position  of 
caretaker  and  caterer,  he  must 
admit  himself  to  be  in  very 
close  relationship  with  those  of 
his  fellows  whose  intellectual 
activity  ceases  when  they  have 
obtained  food,  drink  and  lodg- 
ing. If,  on  the  other  hand,  he 
hold  his  mind  to  be  his  most 
precious  possession,  to  be  cared 


[20] 


[21] 


I 


a  l^l^iloisopi^t  of  ^uccejsJjs 


for  and  developed  to  the  high- 
est pitch  of  usefulness,  and  his 
body  merely  as  a  means  to  that 
end,  then  he  may  justly  regard 
himself  as  the  highest  develop- 
ment of  the  highest  type  of  man. 


[22] 


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